It’s that time of the year again – cold air, busy streets, and an overall buzz of excitement and cheer.
This season, Brunch decided to speak to a few familiar faces to see what they’ll be up to this Christmas.
Today, we had a conversation with Harpo’s Hotels, Cafes, and Restaurants Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Harpo Gooneratne, who went into detail on what his plans are this season and let us in on some of his family’s seasonal shenanigans.
Following are excerpts of the interview.
How will you be spending Christmas this year?
I will be spending it with my family and friends. We’ll be going to church and then spending the rest of the time together.
Every year, we meet at my brother’s house, have a lovely lunch surrounded by family and friends, and join together by singing some Christmas carols and generally having a great time.
What does Christmas mean to you?
For me, Christmas is a time of coming together and celebrating the birth of Christ. It is also a time to concentrate on the less fortunate and uplift the lives of other people.
What’s your most unforgettable Christmas memory?
The most unforgettable memory is when I went Christmas shopping with my mom and dad when I was younger. We would go to Pettah and visit a famous toy store at the time. After a day of shopping, we would head to Akasa Kadé, which was a great rooftop restaurant back then, and have dinner together.
What would your perfect Christmas look like?
My perfect Christmas would be where everybody enjoys themselves and celebrates the birth of Christ. Being around my family and close friends and celebrating is all I want this season.
Best gift you’ve got and given?
From a business perspective, throughout the year, we give to a less fortunate school. This year, we have decided to provide them with dry rations as well as some gifts to the kids in order to get into the spirit of Christmas. We will continue to do this tradition for the coming years as well.
I get the opportunity to be with my family and friends this Christmas, so that’s the best gift I could ever ask for.
Are you taking a different approach to Christmas in the ‘new normal’?
Of course. We have to approach it with the new precautions we have been given and we must encourage people to get their booster vaccinations. Personally, my family and I are adhering to the current regulations, and we’re hoping for the best for the upcoming days and the new year.
Holidays can be stressful sometimes. How do you like to unwind?
From the perspective of a restaurateur, the holiday season is one of the most stressful and busy months of the year. The season has a lot to do with making sure we look after our customers as well as to give them the best experience, so it is quite a hectic season. We try to make our customers happy and be a part of their celebrations.
Any New Year’s resolutions?
Again, from a business perspective, we hope to concentrate on and keep offering everything that we do offer and keep doing what we do best.
Personally, it is to be more health-conscious; seeing the situation with the pandemic, this is the time to keep our health in mind. Eventually, we can hope that the country comes together and we’ll be able to celebrate together in greener pastures.
What’s 2022 looking like for you?
Personally, this is a really tough question because I cannot even predict what tomorrow will look like anymore because of this unpredictable situation. We have to be positive and hope that the situation eases and everything picks back up again. I hope for the best and pray that everything will be better.
Happy Christmas everyone!
